27 Pictures Of Robert Wadlow: The Tallest Man Ever To Exist

Humankind has always been fascinated by extremes: as a result, the record for the Tallest man (ever) has been featured in almost every edition of the Guinness World Records book since its start in 1955. Robert Pershing Wadlow was born on February 22, 1918 in Alton, Illinois. His height of 8' 11.1" qualifies him as the tallest person in history. His excessive height was due to an overactive pituitary gland, that had no cure at the time. Robert was also called the Giant of Illinois and the Alton Giant. He was born to average sized parents and had average sized siblings. At one point in his life, Robert's size began to take its toll and he was advised to use leg braces to walk. Despite all the difficulties he faced, he never used a wheelchair and even went to college to get a proper education like his peers. He became a celebrity in 1936 after he toured with the Ringling Brothers Circus. Charming and smart, Robert enjoyed photography and collecting stamps. He died after a faulty leg brace irritated his ankle and lead to an infection. He died in his sleep on July 15, 1940, at the young age of 22.